quintessence

American  

[kwin-tes-uhns] / kwɪnˈtɛs əns /

noun

1. the pure and concentrated essence of a substance.

2. the most perfect embodiment of something.

3. (in ancient and medieval philosophy) the fifth essence or element, ether, supposed to be the constituent matter of the heavenly bodies, the others being air, fire, earth, and water.

---

quintessence British  

/ kwɪnˈtɛsəns /

noun

1. the most typical representation of a quality, state, etc

2. an extract of a substance containing its principle in its most concentrated form

3. (in ancient and medieval philosophy) ether, the fifth and highest essence or element after earth, water, air, and fire, which was thought to be the constituent matter of the heavenly bodies and latent in all things

---

Other Word Forms

• quintessential
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of quintessence

1400–50; Middle English < Medieval Latin quīnta essentia fifth essence

Explanation

The quintessence of something is its perfect, ideal example. Some people say that the quintessence of American cuisine is the hamburger. Vegetarians may beg to differ. Ancient Greek philosophers claimed there were five elements: earth, water, air, fire, and a fifth substance that made up objects in the heavens. This idea was passed down through the ages to Latin-speaking scholars who called the fifth element quintessence — from the Latin words quintus, meaning “fifth,” and essentia, meaning “being.” Eventually, the word’s meaning evolved into our modern definition of an ideal, a potentially heavenly example of something — you know, like a hamburger.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

quintessence

The key to quintessence is that it changes in value through cosmic history and can be attractive or repulsive.

From Science Magazine ● Jun. 21, 2023

For 58 years--an eternity in this town--Chasen’s was the quintessence of Hollywood, as sublime as the expensive caviar that is on the menu and as low-brow as the world-famous chili that is not.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 25, 2023

And her longevity feels like a quest in the direction of excellence, as well as a pursuit of her own quintessence.

From Washington Post ● Feb. 3, 2023

The chorus sing “Dust, quintessence of dust” on that chord, even before Hamlet has sung his first opening lines.

From New York Times ● May 16, 2022

The heavens are made out of aether, or quintessence, which is translucent and unchanging, neither hot nor cold, dry nor damp.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

Related Words

• apotheosis